Switch-operating device for street-railroad cars



C. W. COtLENS. v SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE FOR STREET RAILROAD CARS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, I920.

Patented June 22, 1920. 2 SHEETS-SHEET c. w. COLLENS. 4 SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE FOR STREET RAILROAD CARS. APPLICATION FILED APR. 10. 1920.

1,344,487. Patented June 22, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

awe/who's 61127223622. WCoZZns.

CAMPBELL W. COLLENS, 0F ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

SWITCH-OPERATING DEVICE FOR STREET-RAILROAD CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22, 1920.

Application filed April 10, 1920. Serial No. 373,082.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CAMPBELL WV. Contains, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switch-Operating Devices for Street-Railroad Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improved switch opcrating device adapted to be carried on the front platform of a street railroad car to enable the motor-man to operate the movable frogs or the switch points at the switches, and without'the necessity of leaving the car.

The invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings 2- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the front platform of a street railroad car provided with my improved operating device.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of my improved switch operating device.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the same.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view partly in section of a modified form of my invention.

For the purposes of this specification the floor of the front platform of a street railway car'is indicated at a. In accordance with my invention I provide a plate 1, which is here shown as rectangular in form and is provided near its ends with observation openings 2 in whiclr are mounted glass panes 3. The plate is arranged in the opening in the platform and is provided at its sides and ends with a supporting flange l, which bears on the floor of the platform. At the center of the plate on its under side is a downwardly extending projection 5 in which is a substantially semi-spherical socket 6 open at its upper and lower ends.

.A tumbler 7 comprises a substantially globular lower portion 8, which fits loosely in the socket 6, and the cylindrical upper portion 9 which projects up through the opening formed by the upper end of the socket. Hence this tumbler is connected by what is in effect, a ball and socket joint, to the plate so that the tumbler is capable of almost universal angular movement. A

switch operating iron 10 has an arm 11, which extends upwardly through a central opening in the globular lower portion 8 of the tumbler and also extends up through the bore of the cylinder portion 9 thereof. A stop element 12 is secured to the arm of the switch iron and is arranged to play vertically in the bore of the tumbler, a coiled extensile spring 13 being placed in the bore of the tumbler below the stop element and hence serving to normally raise the switch arm. The upper end of the switch iron is provided with the cross sectionally angular projection 14 which is adapted to be engaged by a correspondingly shaped socket 15 in the lower end of a manually operated key lever 16.

The spring 13 normally holds the switch iron in elevated position and prevents the switch iron from striking the switch rails or frogs. When it is desired to operate the switch, the car is stopped with the switch iron directly above the switch and the motorman then connects the key lever to the switch iron, depresses the lever so as to cause it to engage the switch point, and then turns the said switch iron appropriately to move the switch point as required. Since the switch iron, which is vertically movable, is carried by the tumbler which is mounted for universal movement, the switch iron may be readily applied to the switch point and may be manipulated in any direction in order to do so. The glass panes 17 in the openings in the pane 1 permit the motor-man to see the switch point when the platform is over the same and greatly assist in the manipulation of the switch. To enable the device to be successfully operated by night, I also provide suitable lights 18, which are herein shown as electric lamps, mounted on the lower side of the pane 1 at points near the glass panes. These lights enable the switch point to be seen readily by the motor-man and enable him to also readily apply the switch iron to the switch point.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a modified form of my invention in which I provide a pair of standards 19, which are attached and extend downward from the platform a of the car. The lower ends of these standards are connected by the shaft 20 on which is mounted a bracket arm 21 for vertical angular movement. A tumbler 22 is pivotally connected to the free end of the bracket arm position by the action of the spring 2%, which is coiled on the shaft 20.

The car platform has an opening Z) and at one side of the said opening is a recess'c. A plate 25 is provided to cover the opening 6. A switch iron 26 extends down through the recess 0 and is vertically movable, and is also adapted to be turned in the tumbler and to be readily engaged with the switch point in order to operate the switch point. This switch iron has a stop 27 to bear on the tumbler and is provided with a handle 28 at its upper end. lVhen the switch iron is in raised position, out of use, it may be hung from a hook 29 on the dash-board of V the car by engaging the handle 28 with the By first raising the plate 25 the said hook. switch iron may be also moved in the opening Z) if it be desired to enlarge the amplitude of movement of the switch iron. Electric lamps 30 are also provided to light the switch point and enable the same to be readily operated, these electric lamps being shown on the lower side of the car platform.

WVhile I have herein shown and described two forms of my invention, 1 would have it understood that other modifications may be made in the form, proportion, and construction of the several parts, without departing from the spirit of my invention within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus fully described the invention what isclaimed as new,is:

A switch operating mechanism of the class described comprising a plate provided with a socket, the said socket being substantially semi-spherical in form andopen at its upper and lower sides, a tumbler having a substantially globular portion mounted in the socket of the plate so that the tumbler may be moved angularly in one direction a switch iron carried by and extending through the tumbler and movable vertically therein, and a spring carried by the tumbler and acting to normally raise the switch iron.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

CAMPBELL W. coLnENs. 

